Aikido lineage goes back to M. Ueshiba, who received this lineage form the Aiki jutsu in Japan. There are other Aiki traditions, originated in Japan and China. The word Qui is Chinese and Ki is Japanese. The esoteric tradition in Aikido as a Budo is related to the concept of Ki – individual Ki as well as Universal Ki. This was adopted in to the Aiki-budo by the inspiration form the Ki-masters of Japan.
There are many lineage of Aikido to day. The originals include and offer the teachings of Ki as a essential aspect. When the founder of Aikido M. Ueshiba died, the aspect of spirituality was replaced by the concept of mind – Even when he lived not many could follow his spiritual teachings.
Doctrinally, he was what can be classified philosophically as mystical pantheists (as opposed to rational dualists) that function in the objective world by following a triune manifestation epitomized by the Law of the Triangle. (Nature, Man, Heaven)
In short, he believed in the triune nature of the human being as being composed of body, spirit, and soul with the intellectual mind being part of the body and the intuitive mind being an aspect of the spirit/soul combination. After his death all this was forgotten and all most lost.
The founder of Aikido appointed 3 months before his death Tohei, sensei as General Chief Instructor, 10 dan of Aikikai. However having a son, he according to Japanese traditions had to place him in the linage as his successor. To overcome this dilemma – he appointed his son as President of the Aikikai. Asking Tohei, sensei to protect his son.
As time passed by this construction of divided leadership shoved not to work. The concept of Doshu, as a traditional Japanese title in Budo, came in to question. The was of dualistic thinking took over and political impulses followed in its footstep. To avoid a greater schism, Tohei, sensei did not clamed that title, but made is pass to the founders son. However that did not slowed the fact that Aikikai was loosing the spiritual dimension in Aikido, only making space for concepts as mind and body – leaving the concept of Spirit or Universal Ki as some thing not to be taken in to account. As a only belonging to a old religious superstition, better to be forgotten, as it gave rise to a endless number questions. The concept of Ki was excommunicated.
It came to that point, that Tohei, sensei had to make special Ki-classes out side the Aikikai to keep up his work. However this solution was not acceptable to any one in the Aikido movement, and thou he did not wanted to leave the Aikikai, he had to made his own foundation under the name Ki no kenkyukai, not using the word Aikido.
Thou Tohei, sensei was open to the concept of Ki, he could not follow the spiritual dimension of Ueshiba, but directed his interpretation towards the concept Shin shin toitsu do – which he also related to the word Aikido. As such his Aikido became related to the founders perception of Aikido as only possible with mind and body unified and associated with aspects of healing and meditation.
At the end of his work in Aikikai, his slogan was: “Some things missing, some things wrong”. He found some of the missing links, but not the Spiritual dimension, on which the Ueshiba, had founded his Aikido.
Ueshina says in his Doka – I do not have followers – only friend be which I am sharing my experiences of Aikido. However some of this individuals had the ability to share some of the enlightment, an Tohei, sensei, definitely was one of those. That he him self and his organization, at the end of his life should ran in to the same problems for which he stood up in the Aikikai, is an other story.
The different aikido lineages.
Aikido is aikido. By this is mend, that it is founded on a true root master. The true Aikido is what is in one's heart, meaning a true Aikidoka can exist in any lineages . The organization is merely a vehicle in which the essence of the Aikido is manifests. In other words, an organization, by virtue of the intent and motives of its members can tap into Aiki essence and be true. By the same token, an organization can become lost if its members forget what is important.
What truly points to authenticity of Aikido organization (besides its lineage) is the attitude expressed by that organization and its deeds. Therefore we can say that what makes a true Aikido organization are the members, what they are in their hearts, and not the administration. The organizations, which can be likened to the physical body, tend to grow old, corrupt, and eventually die. However, it must be remembered that the tradition and initiation leading to inner self-development of the sincere individual is the Soul and Spirit of Aikido. We should remember that the word Do is related to the Chinese word Dao – translated to “parth” or ratter “process”. This is what perpetuates the Aikido Movement despite what an organization does or doesn't do.
With this in mind, it shouldn't really be all that surprising that there are several Aikido groups around. Some are legitimate by virtue of the attitude expressed, and that means they are open and tolerant, encourage their members to seek truth and apply it according to individual interpretation, are not oppressive, suppressive, arrogant, etc. Some are bogus because those ideals are not properly represented. To find which is which you need to feel your way around them. Some good advice would be to measure the worth of an Order by how you intuit it and by how its members respond to your queries. A genuine Order will try to answer your questions as openly and honestly as possible; they will not try to influence you one way or the other, and they will not talk down to you (as an example, "we cannot discuss such and such matter with you because you haven't studied our higher Degrees, because you are not a member, etc.").
Also, keep in mind that there are different types and lineages of Aikido and for the most part, the divisiveness comes from differences in the interpretation of Aiki ontology. But the one thing which is really the earmark of true Aikido is the emphasis on freedom and personal responsibility. If you find any type of suppression of those tenets from any Aiki group, then you will know that group does not represent the Aikido ideal nor any of its traditional lineages.
Aikido is a traditional and initiatic movement that sometimes solidifies into an Order or organization for a period of time. This means an individual or small group of individuals who have been properly trained and initiated into the Aiki system will work together for a common purpose and objective. This is effectively how some of the Aiki-movments started at the beginning of the 20th century -- Aikikai, Ki no kenlyukai a.i. , Yoshinkai, Shin shin toitsu kai, Yuishinkai, ect.
The Yuishinkai as I see it does not conduct studies or comparisons of the existing Aikido organizations. We assume that each order does their best in representing theideals of the Aikido movement. We choose to focus our efforts on the future of the Aikido movement and the fulfillment of its objectives. In the light of the above statement we can only reiterate our own commitment to the wok of founding documents and work of the Founder M. Ueshiba. In short, our intent is to accomplish qualitative Work in a quiet fashion.
The meaning of the offices Doshu
The offices of Doshu is in Aikido interpretate to be of the highest rank, and only related to the family name Ueshiba., but is that the proper interpretation?
We cane only hope to understand the concept Doshu, if we try to understand, that all authentic lineages of spiritual training place it self under the gaudiness of Protectors. According to Yoshigasaki, sensei Doshou is not a “Leader of the Path” but a “Protector of a path”.
We can look at Aikido as a movement that has a "soul" and "spirit" (Aiki Tradition and initiation) and a "body" (a Aikido organization) to express itself. While the "bodies" come and go, the "soul" and "spirit" remains. We can find this dynamic evident in the history of the Aikidoka and the number of physical organizations they have had. To assure that, as time passes on, people won't change the Ki Tradition and its teachings, a system of preservation was set into motion. In the lineage of M. Ueshiba and many others, this system was embodied in the traditional Office of Doshu. The individual holding the Office of Doshu is responsible not only for preserving the purity of the Ki teachings, and assuring that the organization follows the Aiki code, but to secure a continuity of the Aiki mission into the future. He or she must always be chosen and prepared for the Office by the previous Doshu. We may look at an Doshu as a person endowed with a life long responsibility.
We now see that the title Doshu is not monopolizes to one single individual, but the sincere protectors of a tradition of living inspiration. We cane use the term Doshu or founder to any individual, who have devoted his or hers inter life in the service of the Life Spirit. The responsibility of the mission is not placed in one single persons hands, but in a numbers of individualities, who have the courage’s to bring the sacrifices of services.
The answer to this question lays in the differences of defining the Office of Doshu by today's Aikikai and by the Aiki lineage and movement that gave birth to that organization.
In the Tibeten tradition the title lama is identical with the Japanese title sensei, simply meaning teacher. The Tibeten offices as Tulkud is however reserved for individual, who in past life have qualified in the services as esoteric teachers. So the question is not about titles or names, but of quality and qualifications of education of the human body, mind and spirit. Different lineages use different words for the same thing or interpretate word and concept according to the best of there understandings. To see the unity of Aikido as represented only in one organization is not healthy for a living social organism, but is a set back to old ways of monarchy or hierarchy.
The living social organism is not to be compared by a staircase, walls or doors made by stone. The Living social organism, is certainly build by structure and order, but as in all organic life the forces of Ki emanates and penetrates all cells of the organism, form the smallest to the most complex. Each structure or cell have its own individual function. This are not harmonized in to one body – but live en harmony and in this was keep the whol organism together as one unity.
The motto of K. Muruyama, sensei.
"Alle floder har et navn. Men disse navne forsvinder når de strømmer ud i det store ocean.
Aikido har mange stile, mange navne, men Aikido er Aikido.
Det er min vision og håb at lige som floderne, vil de strømme sammen og forene sig som eet."
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